Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs David Pastrnak
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, David Pastrnak projects to 2.44 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bryan Rust's 2.28.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Pastrnak had 100 in 77 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Pastrnak has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Rust for 2.2 ESPN points to Pastrnak's 1.8.
David Pastrnak has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.5, Top skating speed 22.8, Blocked shots 71.
Pastrnak's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.66, Penalty minutes 72, Hits 86.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
David Pastrnak
2.54
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, David Pastrnak has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | Pastrnak |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.92 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.21 |
Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your custom weights are saved in this browser only.
Head-to-head: Rust vs Pastrnak
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Rust 7G 6A, 70 SOG · Pastrnak 15G 19A, 105 SOG
Rust blocked 3 of Pastrnak's shots; Pastrnak blocked 0 of Rust's.
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
10:54 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–13
- 35.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.5
- 40.7%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Pastrnak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-08 | PIT 5–4 BOS | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2026-03-03 | PIT 1–2 BOS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-13 | PIT 1–4 BOS | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-03-01 | PIT 2–3 BOS | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2024-11-29 | PIT 2–1 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2024-04-13 | PIT 4–6 BOS | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2024-01-04 | PIT 6–5 BOS | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 2A 7S |
| 2023-04-01 | PIT 3–4 BOS | 2G 1A 4S | 3G 0A 8S |
| 2023-01-02 | PIT 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-01 | PIT 5–6 BOS | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2022-02-08 | PIT 4–2 BOS | 1G 1A 4S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2021-04-27 | PIT 1–3 BOS | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 6S |
Latest 12 of 24 meetings.
Every stat, side by side
Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.
Fantasy box score
Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Sep 28 to Oct 4. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections use ESPN default points for the games left.
Bryan Rust
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.2 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
David Pastrnak
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGOpp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.7 win%vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bryan Rust or David Pastrnak in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, David Pastrnak projects to 2.44 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bryan Rust's 2.28. Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Pastrnak had 100 in 77 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
- Who is better, Bryan Rust or David Pastrnak?
- On 2025-26 numbers, David Pastrnak leads in 19 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rust and Pastrnak done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 9–15. Rust had 13 points (7 goals) and Pastrnak had 34 (15 goals).
2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →